Home > Blogs > Marian Goetzinger > Marian's Blog

How to manage the "In" Box on your desk.

By Marian Goetzinger

Real Estate Agent with Pine Knoll Shores Realty 252-422-9000 NC 166249

June 15, 2011 10:06 AM

OMG! Get rid of it now! Take all that "stuff" it holds and put it on your desk. Now, start sorting.

The bills you find that are overdue. Go ahead and make the calls. Apologize and pay. NOW!
The contact sheets from weeks ago. It's probably too late, but go ahead and make the call.
The "Notes to self" that now make no sense. Toss them.
The coupons to save bunches of money. They expired. Toss them.
The documents to file: File them.
The cards you forgot to mail, the notes you forgot to reply to, the newspaper clippings you meant to acknowledge....go ahead. Throw it all out.
The "IN" box. TRASH it now! Never get another one.

Deal with things as they come in....Or keep doing what you've been doing and wishing you knew what is hiding in the bottom.

Re-Blog

Comments(11)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Amy Hahn

Pine Knoll Shores Realty - Morehead City, NC

Realtor/Broker - Crystal Coast, NC

Being the OCD kind of gal that I am...You know I despise In-Boxes. They collect things. I know that if I just take care of things as they come in (or shortly after), I am better off. Great post....I hope you threw your horrible in-box away (it drove me crazy).

Jun 15, 2011 10:17 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

This reminds me of the quote from Eisenhower, "Drawers are for procrastinators."

I've always loved that line, and I try to knock things off my List-O-Plenty immediately so I don't have to worry about beginning a phone call or email with... "So sorry to have not gotten back to you sooner...."

Jun 15, 2011 10:20 AM

Kim Boekholder Utah Real Estate/ PECO

Results Real Estate 801.580.5624 - Draper, UT

Broker Results Real Estate/Leasing Specialist PECO

I agree, the minute I got rid of my inbox things got a lot easier. We work in a busy busy business where the "to-do" list is always a mile long. Great post.

thanks,

Jun 15, 2011 11:12 AM

Roger D. Mucci

Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH

Lets shake things up at your home today!

I hate in-boxes..............just like Amy. If it's on my desk for more than half a day, it's either completed or not important enough and is tossed.

Jun 15, 2011 01:56 PM

Mimi Foster

Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO

Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

Sure wish MY desk looked like that :)

Jun 15, 2011 04:03 PM

Dr. Paula McDonald

Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX

Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

That IS one neat desk for sure. You have inspired me - ok, I'll get to work on that pile of receipts. Yuck.

Jun 16, 2011 01:24 AM

Tish Lloyd

BlueCoast Realty Corporation - Wilmington, NC

Broker - Wilmington NC and Surrounding Beaches

Marian ~ This is one of my worst habits -- been trying for years to break myself of this! So, what you're really saying is that when I move to The Crystal Coast, I'll have to keep that box empty, eh? It's okay, if that's what I have to do, then I'll make certain Cinnamon does it!!! LOL!

Jun 16, 2011 02:44 AM

Marian Goetzinger

Pine Knoll Shores Realty 252-422-9000 - Pine Knoll Shores, NC

Crystal Coast Real Estate NC

Hello Everybody and thanks for stopping by. This morning when I got to the office I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself without that messy in box calling to me.

Jun 16, 2011 05:21 AM

Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers

RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON

Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Now that is the desk we have been dreaming of!! It is our 2011 goal!! Okay and we were just thinking about GETTING an 'in box'!! Thanks for the list and motivation!

Jun 16, 2011 05:38 AM

Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP

DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX

Selling Homes Changing Lives

Marian, your posts had LOL and truth too! What a clean post! Gee, that must mean you have a very clean desk! Isn't it funny how we all like and appreciate cleanliness without clutter but procrastination and time gets in the way. We are only human. Thanks for the post!

Patricia

Jun 16, 2011 03:14 PM

1~Judi Barrett

Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK

BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

Inboxes are only effective if used on a daily basis. I think you hit the nail on the head in a humorous way. :)

Jun 17, 2011 03:26 PM

Comments(11)

Marian Goetzinger

Recent Posts